Page 34 of Aftershock

I grabbed my phone as a makeshift microphone and started performing like my life depended on it. I then shoved the phone in front of Lexi’s face as she began to sing the words aloud. By the time the song ended, we both broke out in breathless laughter, too tired to conjure any real sound. Andrew started with a slow clap that gradually became faster as he applauded our oh-so-phenomenal performances.

“That was more tiring than actually performing at one of my concerts.”

Panting heavily, I smiled back, unable to process what just happened. “So, is this what you do on these plane rides? Put on private shows for your flight crew?”

“Not usually, but being here with a friend is making things more interesting,” she admitted as her chest still heaved from the previous workout.

“Ha! I did it! I made Lexi Harlow become friends with me!” I bounced my legs so that my feet tapped against the floor as I threw my arms up into the air.

“Yeah, yeah,” Lexi rolled her eyes.

“Wait, if this isn't your normal routine, then what do you usually do?”

“Sleep, watch movies, get massages, and sometimes karaoke.”

“You have karaoke?” I asked, visibly shocked, before registering the rest of what she had stated. “Wait, you have a masseuse onboard?”

The look of pure bewilderment on my face caused her to smile as Andrew chimed in and said, “You have no idea.”

“Oh, fuck off, Andrew,” Lexi scolded playfully.

“How about something more…tame? Do you have any board games?”

She paused, opening her mouth slightly before closing it again. “I don't know. Let me check.”

“So, you're telling me you have a masseuse on the plane but not a deck of cards or something?”

Lexi walked toward the head of the plane, and without turning around, she stuck her middle finger up in the air, then disappeared behind a blue curtain. When she returned, she held a box with the word UNO on the cover as she glared at me.

“For your information, my masseuse isn't here. She doesn't fly with me all the time, the same way my chef doesn't always fly with me. This time, it's only my two security guards, two flight attendants, my assistant, and the pilots,” Lexi retorted, feeling proud.

“You have a chef?” I exclaimed.

“Oh my god,” she rolled her eyes, causing Andrew to laugh. “You know what? Never mind. I never claimed to be low maintenance.”

Flying High

I watched Lexi approach the table next to the lounge and take a seat in one of the vacant chairs. She slammed the UNO box down while pouting. I moved toward the table and sat opposite her. I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at the time.

12:45 p.m.

It had been around two hours since we took off. Only four left to go. While Lexi split the deck, I checked my notifications. No new messages from my mom…not that I’d be able to receive any texts from up here anyway.

“Okay.” Lexi’s voice caused me to look up as she began explaining the rules of UNO.

“Lexi, I know how to play UNO.”

“Oh,” she whispered as though she were embarrassed. “Then let's play.”

“It’s on.” I narrowed my eyes at her while cracking my knuckles and stretching my neck to the side.

Lexi smirked and began her turn without saying a word. Three rounds of UNO later, I was eating my own words. Lexi had won every single round and was about to win another. Maybe if I changed the color to red, then she wouldn’t be able to use her—

“UNO!” Lexi shouted.

“Shit,” I mumbled while placing down a red four.

Whipping out a blue four, Lexi had once again kicked my ass at UNO.

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